Prewrapped carton



June 21, 1966 M. M. WRIGHT 3,

PREWRAPPED CARTON Filed July 16, l964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG] . 46'INVENTOR. k 32 5| 46 MARGUERITTE M. WRIGHT .4 TTOR N E YIS M. M. WRIGHT'PREWRAPPED CARTON June 21, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1964FIG4C INVENTOR. MARGUERITTE M. WRIGHT ATTORNEYS M. M. WRIGHT PREWRAPPEDCARTON June 21, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 16, 1964 INVENTOR.MARGUERITTE M. WRIGHT A TTOR NE Y5 United States Patent Filed July 16,1964, Ser. No. 383,162 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-s7 This invention relatesgenerally to a flat-foldable carton and more particularly'to'a cartonwhich has a shaped decorative wrapping permanently secured to the outersurfaces of the carton for folding into place as the carton is erectedto present the appearance of a gift wrapping.

It has previously been known to form from cardboard blanks, suitablydimensioned, creased and secured together at opposite sides, cartonswhich are stored in a flat condition but which may be erected into afinished carton shape by pressure along opposite edges of the foldedblank to form an upright rectangular container, a bottom being formed inerecting the flat-folded carton. It is also known to provide printing orother decorative surfaces on the outside of the carton surfaces, asfinally assembled,

which decoration is applied during the forming process prior to joiningthe ends and folding into the flat-folded condition. It is also known toprovide decorative bands as separate pieces attached to the outsidesurfaces to give the appearance of a band later secured to the carton,as after it is filled. Known prior -art structures have not provided forcomplete envelopment of a carton by a decorative wrap integral with thecarton material which also gives the appearance ofga gift wrapping asthe carton is erected and closed at the top, particularly in respect toproviding neatly folded wrappings covering joints of the carton. at itsends. The economy of simultaneaus packaging and wrapping has not beenavailable.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a carton blankwith a decorative wrapping secured to, the outer side thereof andforming a completely gift-wrapped package when erected'and closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of wrappingmaterial glued to outer faces of an erectable carton forming a completecover for the carton flap members at the ends thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shape wrappingmaterial laminated to an erectable carton blank such that fold lines atthe ends thereof, when closed, are like fold lines produced in handwrapping of a carton of the same shape. I

A still further object of the'invention is to provide a rapid method ofsimultaneously closing and wrapping end openings in a carton.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide more economical meansand method for gift wrapping counterdispensed articles.

These and other objects of the invention will be more evident uponconsideration of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top View of a formed carton blank having secured thereto acovering material to form gift wrapping according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the blank of FIG. 1 showing bottom flaps andone edge folded prior to gluing;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second step in the form of a flatfoldedpackagewherein the bottom is assembled in the operation of the bottom elementsof the carton during erection as in FIG. 4A;

ice

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a further step inthe formation of the carton bottom as the bottom flaps fold into place;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the folded wrapping material on the bottom ofthe fully erected carton;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the' top portion of ghe iciarton whilestill open showing wrapping material eta FIG. 8 illustrates a step inthe closing of the top portion of the carton;

. FIG. 9 illustrates afurther step in the closing of the carton; and tFIG. 10 illustrates the completed carton fully gifted wrapped withgummed seals positioned for application to finish the gift wrapping.

Briefly, the invention consists of a flat-foldable carton, i.e., acarton norm-ally purchased and stored in a fiatfolded condition, havingmodified bottom and top closure sections suitable for accommodating acontinuous sheet of wrapping material dimensioned to completely enclosethe carton as the ends are formed upon opening the carton. While aparticular form of flat-foldable carton is illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated that other forms of bottom and topclosures may have gift wrapping material similarly applied on theexterior surface if arranged and dimensioned as here described so thatit may be folded into shape to form the characteristic folds found inhand-wrapped packages, presenting a pleasing appearance. This inventionis illustrated using one form of locking base and a foldable top whichoperates successfully with the wrapping material secured thereto, aswill presently be described in greater detail.

In FIG. 1 is illustrated a blank dimensioned and'precreased for theformation of a carton of right-angular shape, illustratively of squaresection, as generally indicated at 10. It comprises side panels 11, 12,13 and 14 formed of a single sheet of cardboard, or the like, and havingat the outer ends thereof seam-forming portions 15, 15 suitable forgluing together to convert the fiat sheet into anupright box form.Preformed crease lines 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 divide the panels from eachother and from the seam portions 15 and 15'. At the upper ends of panels11-14 are top closing flaps 21, 22, 23 and 24 hinged to the side panelsat 25, 26, 27, 28. Two opposite end flaps as at 21 and 23 are madetriangular in shape having isosceles sides opposite the crease lines 25and 27, the apex angle of triangular flaps 21 and 23. being made whenthe carton shape is square, thereby to cause the apexes to barely meetas flaps 21 and 23 are folded together. The altitude of each of thesetriangles when the carton is square is half the base length along creaselines 25 and 27. A different angle would be chosen when a non-squarecarton shape is desired, but in each case the altitude of the triangleis preferably half the width of the side panels, in this case 26 and 28,so'

that the wrapping material may be neatly folded as illustrated in FIG.9. Flap 22 is preferably rectangular and extends to half the width ofpanels 11 and 13-, while flap 24 is preferably rectangular and extendsto the full width of panels 11 and 13, being of length equal to thecarton length as along lines 26 and 28. Such preferred dimensions permitfolding of flap 24 to form a virtually complete cover for the parcel,the closure being completed by infolding flap 22 and flaps 21 and 23.

The bottom of the carton is formed, according to this illustration, offour flaps each differing somewhat from the other in which flaps 3'1 and32 are generally alike and iflaps 3 3 and 34 are also generally similar.However, flap 32 has a portion 32 creased for folding along line 35 whenflap 32' is cemented to flap 3'1 substantially throughout the commonextent thereof. Flap 34 has a portion 34' joined thereto along creaseline 36 for cementing to flap 33 throughout their common extent whenfolded along line 19. Flap 33 has a relieved portion at the outerextremity thereof to permit folding as will later be apparent. Flaps 31and 32 terminate in hooked portions 37 and 38 which are dimensioned toform a reinforced hook member as portions 31, 32 are glued together andpanels 11 and 12 are folded along line 17. A relieved portion 39 inflaps 34 receives the hook comprising elements 37 and 38. IFlaps 31, 32,33 (and 34 are joined to panels 11, '12, 13 and 14 along hinge lines 41,

42, 43 and 44.

A sheet of decorative Wrapping material generally shown at 45 extendsacross the outside of the entire carton blank and therebeyond at theends of the panels sufficiently to complete a strip of at least one-halfcarton width above and below the ends of panels 11, 12, 13 and '14. Theportion of sheet 45- extending below the hinge line is illustrated at4'6 and at the ends thereof portions 46' extend beyond crease lines 16and 20 for the purpose of folding around adjacent flap edges or forjoining together as the blank is formed into a closed cylinder. Theportion extending above lines 25, 26, 27 and 28, shown at 47, similarlyhas glue portions 47 at the opposite edges thereof. It may be noted thatwrapping material 45 is extended slightly beyond the apex positions oftriangular flaps 21 and 23 in order that a complete covering be providedas the box is closed.

In FIG. 2 seam portion is shown doubled back on panel i l to which it iscemented and that end portion 15' isadapted to be joined thereto by glueapplied either to 15 or 15. Wrapping material portion 46 is shown foldedalong the interior surface of the blank as flaps 3'1, 132, 33 and 34 arefolded inward against the side panel. FIG. 3 shows flap 3'1 foldedagainst 32, 32' to form hook member 37 while flap 34, 34' is foldedagainst flap 33 and seam portions 15 and 15 are joined together as at43.

The carton formed as in FIG. 3 in its flat-folded position may beunfolded as illustrated in FIG. 14 by pressing along fold lines 17 and19 as illustrated in the arrows of FIG. 4A. As the distance betweenlines 17 and 19 is shortened, fold line '18 separates from fold line 16(superimposed on fold line FIG. 4 also illustrates by means of curvedarrows the motion of flaps 31, 32, 33 and 34 as panels 11 and '13 areseparated from panels 12 and 14 thereby to unfold each of seams 41-44-and to sharply fold flaps 32 and 34 along lines and 36. FIG. 4C shows afurther step in the unfolding process commenced in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4Bshows in a top view the mode of cooperation of the bottom flaps, as wellas the folding of the wrapping material 46 in the space between flaps32-33 and 34-31. FIG. 5 shows the carton bottom nearly completed as book37 of flaps 31 and 32 engages flap 34 which in turn is engaged by flap33 folded into the relieved portion 39 of flap 34.

FIG. 6 shows in a bottom view the wrapping feature accomplished as thecarton is erected through steps shown in FIGS; 4A, 4C and 5. It may benoted that flap 32 has a pair of fold lines 49 over which the wrappingmaterial is passed to complete the hand wrapped appearance along thefold lines shown at 49. Flap 31, being cemented to flap 32' and flap 32being joined to the remainder of flap 32 along a fold line causes flap31 to overlie flap 32 in the erected position. The wrapping materialshown in FIG. 2 between hook portions 31 and 31' is concealed within theglued joint, so that an isosceles triangular portion of wrappingmaterial 46, shown at the bottom of flaps 31 and 32, will be visiblewhen the carton is erected. It will also 'be noted that wrappingmaterial between portions of flaps 33 and 34' is also concealed in aglued joint and that flap 33 is exposed only between fold line 51 offlap 34 andthe line 49 of flap 32 when the bottom is completed.Similarly, flap 34 is exposed only between the fold line 51 and the edgeof flap 31 forming one side of the exposed triangle, thereby to sages,etc.

present at the bottom of the completed carton four diagonal fold linesfrom the corners of the carton to the center. The completed folds asseen from the bottom are illustrated at panels 53-56 in FIG. 6.

As the top of the carton is closed after it has been filled, it will benoted that flap 24 may first be folded down into position between flaps21, 2-2 and 23. As -will be seen from FIGJ8, the wrapping materialextending upwardly from panel 14 is folded down into horizontal positioncovering one-half of the carton cover, diagonal fold lines 57 and 5 3being thereby formed. Flap 22 may then be folded over flap 24 therebycompleting a wrapping cover over flaps '22 and 24 since the material 47overlaps slightly at line 5'? as flap 22 is pressed against closed fiaps24, thereby forming diagonal lines 61 and '62 along the edges of flaps21 and 23. As shown in FIG. 9, flaps 21 and 23 may then be folded intoposition such that the triangular points thereon meet at the center ofthe carton to complete a gift wrap for the carton as further shown in'FIG. 10. In order to complete the appearance of a gift wrapping, gummedseals, 63, 64 may then be placed over the fold lines meeting at thecenter of the carton at the top and bottom, respectively.

A carton formed in this manner has a number of advantages and isparticularly economical for use in a store or other dispensary where alarge number of items are being packaged, particularly during a holidayseason when gift wrappings are particularly appropriate and it is notpracticable to provide sufficient help or to use the time of clerks forhand-wrapping of packages. The wrapping further provides opportunity foradvertising mes- A further advantage to the customer is obtained in thathe receives his wrapped package immediately after purchase thereof,without a waiting period,

' this package being to outward appearances the same as an individuallywrapped carton of the same dimensions.

Whenever it is desired to provide a similar gift wrapping for a shapeother than square, the means of erecting the carton from the flat-foldedcondition may vary and the dimensions and angles of the intersectingflaps is accordingly varied, as will be evident to those skilled in thecarton art. The objects of the present invention are achieved in partthrough a cementing together of end flaps for the bottom section whichare to fold together in the fiat-folded condition and in the provisionof diagonally cut lateral edges of those flaps which are to be exposedto view and meet at the center of the carton. Other flap portions whichare covered by adjacent flaps need not be removed, while at the sametime providing reinforcement for the bottom section. It is also notedthat the top closure makes similar use of diagonal lines and apexedtriangles meeting at the center, the last two fiaps folded into positionbeing above the first two flaps forming the closure, thereby to presentthe desired handwrapped appearance.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood that other equivalent structures areintended to be included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a flat-foldable carton having four lateral walls mutually joinedin pairs to form upright corners each wall having at one end thereofflap members cut away and creased to fold into the form of a bottom forthe container when the carton is erected from the flat position, saidwalls having at the other ends thereof, respectively, foldable flapmembers cut away to foldingly form the top of the carton, theimprovement comprising a decorative rectangular wrapping secured to theouter surfaces of said walls and flaps, respectively, being ofcontinuous sheet form to cover cut away portions of said flap members,said wrapping being secured to said flap members at two opposite sidesat each end of the carton and extending continuously therebetween,thereby to be foldable into wrapping position therewith and beingsupported free from said flap members over at least part of the area oftwo other said flap members the free portions being foldable diagonallyover the end of the carton to exhibit fold lines intersecting centrallyof the carton.

2. In a flat-foldable carton having four joined upright walls eachincluding foldably attached bottom-forming flaps arrangedto unfold whenthe carton erects from a flat position to form an open rectangularlycylindrical carton, v

a top flap extending upward from each said wall and creased for foldinginwardly at an intersection with said wall,

first and second said top flaps extending at least sufliciently to meetat the center of the carton throughout substantially the width of thecarton,

third and fourth said top flaps each extending substantially in the formof an isosceles triangle based along a junction with the wall whereattached and of altitude to substantially meet at apexes as said thirdand fourth walls are folded inwardly,

a continuous decorative covering on each said wall and bottom-formingflap to simulate gift wrapping when said carton is erected,

a portion of said covering being formed to extend uniformly above eachwall a distance approximating said carton width,

said portion being laminated to said top flaps substantially throughoutthe common extent thereof and be- -ing unsupported at the corners of thecarton and laterally from said corners to edges of said third and fourthflaps,

said portion being joined in square cylinder form,

whereby enfolding of said first and second top flaps and then of saidthird and fourth top flaps completes a stimulated wrapping with foldedpoints of the covering meeting at the carton top center.

3. In a carton according to claim 2, said first flap being ofrectangular form to substantially close the top of the carton.

4. In a carton according to claim 2, said decorative wrapping beingprelaminated to said walls and bottomforming flaps.

5. In a carton according to claim 2, said bottom-forming flaps beingshaped to interlock in a reinforced bottom structure as the carton iserected from the flap-folded condition, and said covering extendingbeyond the lower edge of each wall by substantially half of the cartonwidth, being laminated to said flaps and shaped to fold and unfoldtherewith to form a folded cover over the bottom-forming flaps when thecarton is erected.

6. In a carton according to claim 2, said bottom-forming flaps includingat least three flaps cut away along one side toward the cylindrical axiswhen the bottom unfolds and to form a fold line for said covering as thecarton is erected.

7. In a flat-foldable carton having four lateral walls mutually hingedtogether at upright corners when erected and each having at acorresponding end thereof flap members cut away and creased to fold intoa reinforced hot tom for the container, a plurality of said wa-llshaving at the other ends thereof members to foldingly close the top ofthe carton, the improvement comprising a flap member hinged to the upperedge of one side Wall having length and width substantially equal to thelength and width of said carton when erected, a second flap memberhinged to the upper edge of a second wall being of substantiallyrectangular form having a width approximating the width of last saidflap member and of length substantially half the length-thereof forfolding into place above said first flap member,

a decorative wrapping secured to the outer surfaces of said walls andflaps, respectively, being of continuous sheet form extending throughoutthe extent of said walls and of width to cover said flap members each tothe extent of substantially one-half the width of the carton,

said wrapping being secured to said flap members at two opposite sidesof each end of the carton thereby to be foldable into wrapping positiontherewith and being supported free from flap members over at least partof the area between said first and second flap members,

said wrapping supported free from flap members being caused to fold oversaid flaps at alternate sides of the carton to form a triangular foldthereon.

8. In a carton formed of four lateral walls joined to form an uprightbox foldable for flat storage, having a pair of preceased end flaps atone top of each of a pair of opposed walls, being dimensioned to foldinto a carton closure, the carton having interlocking bottom flapsfolded within said walls and being mutually interconnected to foldoutward into a carton bottom as the walls are separated after flatstorage, the improvement, comprising continuous sheet means forming adecorative paper wrapping attached throughout the length of each sidewall, and top flap,

said means forming a decorative paper wra'ppnig exteriorly of each saidflap and extending uniformly between said flaps to form a non-separatedwall .covering extension of substantially like extent beyond each ofsaid walls to approximately one-half the carton width, and means forminga decorative paper wrapping exteriorly attached to each said flap, ofthe carton bottorn'and extending beyond said walls substantiallyone-half carton width being continuous between said flaps to form afolded wrapping edge as the bottom is formed by folding said flaps tooverlapping closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,808,194 10/1957Dols -2"-.. 229-87 2,950,040 8/1960 Bolding 229-38 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR,Primary Examiner. I

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A FLAT-FOLDABLE CARTON HAVING FOUR LATERAL WALLS MUTUALLY JOINEDIN PAIRS TO FORM UPRIGHT CORNERS EACH WALL HAVING AT ONE END THEREOFFLAP MEMBERS CUT AWAY AND CREASED TO FOLD INTO THE FORM OF A BOTTOM FORTHE CONTAINER WHEN THE CARTON IS ERECTED FROM THE FLAP POSITION, SAIDWALLS HAVING AT THE OTHER ENDS THEREOF, RESPECTIVELY, FOLDABLE FLAPMEMBERS CUT AWAY TO FOLDINGLY FROM THE TOP OF THE CARTON, THEIMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A DECORATIVE RECTANGULAR WRAPPING SECURED TO THEOUTER SURFACES OF SAID WALLS AND FLAPS, RESPECTIVELY, BEING OFCONTINUOUS SHEET FORM TO COVER CUT AWAY PORTIONS OF SAID FLAP MEMBERS,SAID WRAPPING BEING SECURED TO SAID FLAP MEMBERS AT TWO OPPOSITE SIDESAT EACH END OF THE CARTON AND EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY THEREBETWEEN,THEREBY TO BE FOLDABLE INTO WRAPPING POSITION THEREWITH AND BEINGSUPPORTED FREE FROM SAID FLAP MEMBERS OVER AT LEAST PART OF THE AREA OFTWO OTHER SAID FLAP MEMBERS THE FREE PORTIONS BEING FOLDABLE DIAGONALLYOVER THE END OF THE CARTON TO EXHIBIT FOLD LINES INTERSECTING CENTRALLYOF THE CARTON.